What’s Up?

On Sunday we had some rain. The sky was grey and foggy for a while, then later opened up to just gray. I figured that most likely would continue to rain.

I wasn’t planning to shoot pictures because there were no birds for hours. I was in my office when suddenly there was some commotion on the roof and the backyard, sounded like heavy rain or perhaps sleet! I looked outside the window…there were hundreds of dark birds all over the lawn, deck, everywhere! They were Grackles, I ran to set up my camera but as soon as they saw me the birds got spooked and took flight. I waited for a few minutes and another group (smaller than the previous) landed on my deck and proceded to eat all they could. I took some shots of them but they didn’t stay too long. Most likely that these birds too are flying south to a warmer place. Especially when we are being hit with a nasty cold vortex from the north.

14 thoughts on “What’s Up?”

susanpoozan on December 20, 2016 at 8:09 am said:

What a siught, glad you caught some of them at least.

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- avian101 on December 20, 2016 at 10:06 am said:
  
  Thank you Susan! 🙂
  
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Vicki on December 20, 2016 at 8:21 am said:

What a great opportunity to capture birds close-up. The images look great. And what an amazing sight with so many.

I find if I put my cameras (any of 3 including a long lens) on my desk with the caps off, the birds stay away. If I pack them in their cases to prevent dust, the birds land on my balcony and my fumbling behind my chair to pull out a camera, spooks the birds away) 🙂

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- avian101 on December 20, 2016 at 10:12 am said:
  
  Most times I set my camera on the tripod, cap on but I cover the camera with a towel. You save some time but there’s nothing you can do if the birds get spooked. Thanks for sharing Vicki. 🙂
  
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jfwknifton on December 20, 2016 at 10:21 am said:

Very spectacular!

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- avian101 on December 20, 2016 at 11:09 am said:
  
  Thanks John! 🙂
  
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Jet Eliot on December 20, 2016 at 10:51 am said:

Perhaps it was Santa and his reindeer, and the grackles were just riding along on the sleigh? However they came through, what a thrill to get two large flocks! They know where to find paradise.

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- avian101 on December 20, 2016 at 11:16 am said:
  
  Ha,ha!… All I know is they left a big mess! Far from being paradise. Thank you my friend! 🙂
  
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belindagroverphotography on December 20, 2016 at 10:55 am said:

Quite the event to witness and photograph.

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- avian101 on December 20, 2016 at 11:19 am said:
  
  I had this event happened a few years back with the difference that the flock of blackbirds was in the thousands! Have you seen the movie “The birds”? Just like that! Thanks Belinda. 🙂
  
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  - belindagroverphotography on December 20, 2016 at 2:51 pm said:
    
    Too many birds for me😊
tootlepedal on December 20, 2016 at 5:49 pm said:

Well caught HJ

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- avian101 on December 20, 2016 at 5:59 pm said:
  
  Thanks Tom! 🙂
  
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Lisa Rest on December 25, 2016 at 8:45 pm said:

Wow how did I miss this? How cool to have an entire flock of Grackles show up in your yard! I used to get a few in the summer, but never anything like this.

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